SFO: San Francisco International Airport --

THE AIRPORT beamed of stress and panic. Kassie didn’t know exactly what the problem was, but she had heard whisperings regarding two canceled flights to New York and Miami. She was going to Zurich; therefore, it didn't concern her. She was going far away from either of those cities.

“You going on flight 880, too?” A man in his late twenties popped up beside Kassie.

Kassie nodded, looking back at her ticket. “One to Switzerland. Land of chocolate and cheese.”

“Let we warn you. Don’t try and bite the Alps. All you’ll get is a sore tooth and a dentist bill and long as this flight.”

Kassie smiled. “Why are you going?”

“Business. For a short, overnight trip. Well, overnight there. With the flights it will be more like three days. You?”

Kassie turned her head away. “My father just died.”

“I’m sorry… I'm afraid I didn't catch your name. I’m Greg.”

Kassie smiled lightly. “Kassie. ”

“How did he die, if you don't mind my asking?”

Kassie nodded, then looked up at Greg. “I’ll just tell you that the Alps gave him more than a sore tooth.”

A female voice came over the paging system and called for flight 880 to board. She and Greg grabbed their carry-ons and passed through the terminal.

Gillian’s Home: Mystique Road --

Jake stood outside Gillian’s home with the letter firmly clasped in his hands. His walked slowly to the silver mailbox hanging beside the door. Its “mouth” was open, ready to swallow his message.

Jake stepped back, and saw light pouring through the side window beside the door. He snuck up to the window and peered inside…

=====

“IRIS!” Gillian continued to scream through the phone. Who had attacked her? Why would someone do that? “Iris? Are you there?”

Gillian was terrified. She felt her pulse beating like a drum pounding in her chest. She wondered if her call about Giovanni had distracted her. She could have possibly heard something if not for her.

The police! Gillian thought. I need to call them!

Gillian immediately hung up. She took a few deep breaths and dialed 9-1-1.

After giving the operator all the needed information, she just sat there on the couch. Someone had attacked her friend. Probably one of the most trusting friends she knew. Her only friend, really. Questions were rolling through her head: Is Iris alive? Who did it? Can he find my phone number? Will he come after me?

Gillian eyes her front door. She got ready to get up, but sat back down. She was unsure if it was safe... but her friend was in trouble...

I can’t sit around here! she screamed to herself. You need to see her!

Gillian bolted up from the couch and raced to front door of her house. Her hand slipped on the knob, but she finally got a good grip. She swung the door open – and saw Jake!

Consuelos Residence

Mateo was happy with the fact that he had saved someone’s life that evening. If wasn’t something everyone got to do.

“This is a beautiful house.” Skye was walking around in the nightgown, her clothes drying off. “What do you do for a living?”

Mateo turned to Skye, changing the topic slightly. “My brother bought me this house.”

“He sounds generous,” she stated, turning to him. “Do you have a job?”

“My brother is able to support me.” Mateo turned and moved to the kitchen. “Was is this? Am I making my way to 1 million with these questions? That is my final answer.”

Skye looked at Mateo intently. “Is there something you're not telling me?”

Mateo didn’t answer. He went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.

“I’d like to meet your brother,” Skye yelled from the living room to the kitchen. “He could be in trouble.”

Mateo came back into the living room. “My brother is a very busy person. He also lives in San Francisco. I don’t know if he has ever visited. And I doubt he’s in trouble.”

“Oh, he seems closer than that.”

The doorbell rang.

Mateo got up and walked to the door. He opened the door and there stood his brother, Dean. He wore a dark goatee on his chin, and had dark, piercing eyes. He was several years older than Mateo, and saw to it his brother was cared for financially.

“Mateo, my bro.” He was breathing hard. “I’ve come to visit you.”

Skye walked up to the door. She turned to Mateo, then to Dean. “Hello.”

Darla's Home: S.F.

Darla Tom's hands were deep into her face. She was in a predicament, but it wasn’t about Drew’s death. And it wasn’t about her daughter, Kassie.

“Oh, God…” she sighed.

The front door of the house opened up and Robert Carlyle rushed inside.

“How are you?” he asked, moving up next to her. “Everything okay?”

Darla looked up at Robert, her eyes red. “Okay? This has happened and you’re asking me if I’m okay? I just hope to God it isn’t yours.”

On the plane, Kassie took a window seat. Greg was on her tail, and say down right beside her. He shoved his carry-ons into the overhead compartments.

“Ready for the flight?” Greg asked her, sitting down. “A book or a thick, text-filled magazine? Maybe a sleeping pill. Cyanide doesn’t count.”

Kassie smiled again. “I got ‘Stephen King’s It.’ I saw the movie.”

Greg shook his head. “That will last you till were half across the ocean.”

“I guess we’d better think of something to do.”

“We’ll think of something…”

The plane started to move. The seatbelt light flashed on and they took off.

“Jake?” Gillian asked the man standing on her front porch. “What are you doing here?”

Jake was now under the light. He thought quickly. He needed something.

“I…” Jake paused, then jumped in. “I was going to ask you at what time the Beach Hut opens tomorrow. Kassie is out for a few days, and I want to have some fast food.”

Gillian looked at him strangely. “We usually open at 8 for breakfast, but tomorrow's my day off so, obviously, I won't be there.”

Jake nodded. He turned around and saw the strange new car beside Mateo’s house. “Have you seen that car before?”

Gillian shook her head. “I'm not nig on cars, but isn’t that a Porsche? How could Mateo get something like that? Does he even have a job?”

Jake shook his head as well. “He probably lives off some trust fund. Or his parents give him money. Me, I have to slave away at the hospital.” Jake looked back at Gillian. “I’m sorry. You came out of your house for a reason; please don’t let me keep you back.”

“Thanks.” Gillian moved past Jake turned left down the street. She made another left turn down a path that connected from Mystique Road to Pier Road. [MAP]

Jake stayed on the doorstep. Will she find the note?

Skye watched the two brothers say nothing. She turned to Dean a put out her hand. "I'm Skye Lore. It's nice to see you, Mateo's Brother."

“Well, hell-o there.” Dean said to Skye. "I'm Dean." Mateo could see his brother was gawking at her. “What’s a pretty thing like you doing here?” Dean winked at Mateo.

Mateo interrupted. “How about what you are doing here.”

“I came for a little visit, little bro.” The sounds of sirens could be heard in the distance, and Dean jumped in. “Taking a break.”

Mateo scanned outside and saw the car. “Nice car. Is it new?”

“I bought is a week ago.”

Mateo nodded and closed the door. “How long will this visit last?”

“I don’t know.” Dean followed Skye into the living room. He stopped and walked up to Mateo. “How long have you two been going out? She’s in a nightgown! I can see why you don’t want me here.”

Mateo looked at him with his eyes wide open. “I just met the woman.”

Dean smiled. “You’re a quick dog, aren’t you?”

“You know what I mean.”

While this hushed conversation was taking place, Skye was sitting in the living room. “What are you guys talking about?”

“You,” Dean spoke out. “How it is great to see such a beautiful woman in our midst.”

Skye smiled at him. “Really?”

Dean nodded. “Where are you from?”

“I don’t know.”

Dean was surprised. “Really? I knew a man from Eyeduntno. Strange fellow.”

Skye smiled. “No. I really don’t know. I have amnesia, or something.”

“Well, then,” Dean continued, “I hope that you’ll be able to remember my phone number. How about I write it down for you?”

Skye laughed. Mateo watched this. His brother had always been better with the girls than him. He had saved her life and was probably going to play second fiddle with his brother.

“Why did you do it?” Skye asked Dean, who was writing down his number. “Why did you shoot that man?”

“…and that was went the whole thing fell right over!”

Kassie laughed as she heard the end of Greg’s story. The time seemed to fly by with him on the plane with her. He was one of the funniest people.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” came the pilot’s voice. “This is you pilot speaking. We will be experiencing some storm turbulence ahead. Make sure your seatbelts are properly fastened and loose objects are secure.”

The plane was riding smoothly. Then suddenly there was a light shaking. The plane bounced a bit, but remained firmly on course.

Creak…

The lights went out!

Gillian exited the path and began her descent down Pier Road where Iris lived. She was moving at the pace of a quick jog. She could see ambulance lights in the distance. There was a hospital nearby, so the emergency dispatch was fast.

Presence Memorial Hospital was the only major building they had. There was a branch of King Industries in the town, but it was mostly jus local stuff. Any children in town were home schooled since there was no local school till the neighboring town of Doberhaven. A university would be at Berkley near San Francisco.

She neared where the commotion was taking place outside her friend’s house. Gillian rushed up to one of the paramedics.

“How is she?” Gillian stuttered. “I called the police. I’m her friend. Can I see her?” She was talking quickly.

The paramedic turned to her. “You’re too late.”

Jake breathed deeply. He left Gillian’s house and didn’t look back.

I hope you get the note, Gillian, he thought. Then you’ll know someone feels for you, even though it could never be.

Adam King entered the Main Mansion on the King Estate. It was a majestic house that stood imposing in the town of Presence. Adam couldn’t say that he was proud to be a King, but the security moneywise was nice.

“Mom?” he called out. “Dad? You home?”

Julian King walked into the room. “Where are the servants?” He looked around and turned to the living room. He stood underneath a giant chandelier in the hallway. “Constance?”

“I sent them home early.” Constance King strode into the hallway. “I didn’t think anyone more would be coming home on a Sunday night.”

“You can’t be too careful,” Julian cautioned. “God forbid someone calls and I have to answer the phone. In my own house? I hope the day never comes.”

Constance moved up close to Adam. “Dear, this evening didn’t go too well with your father. The deal fell through and he’s on the edge.”

Adam nodded. “I wanted to know how things went, but I guess I’d better leave.”

Just as Adam was leaving, Julian pointed it out. “Son, where were you tonight?”

“Just driving around,” Adam stated. “I left ‘Natural Exposure,’ then just drove around. I was bored.”

Julian looked at him. “That is all you did? Are you sure?”

Robert held Darla while the two of them were sitting side-by-side on the couch. A TV was playing in the background, adding some noise to the otherwise silent room.

“We’ll get through this,” he said. “Things like this can be fixed.”

Darla shook her head. “I don’t know what to do. I just don’t…” She closed her eyes, then opened them again. “Please help me, dear Lord.”

“WHAT?!” Dean exclaimed. “How could you think that?”

Skye shrugged. “I guess I’m just sensitive to things around me. I thought I could smell a gun that has been recently shot. And while those siren – ambulance sirens – were wailing, you seemed edgy.”

Dean got up from the couch. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Dean got up and walked behind the couch.

“Dean?” Mateo asked. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Dean turned to Mateo. “I’m going to crash here for a day or two. Is that okay?”

“I can’t stop you. We both know that.”

Skye stared deeply at Dean. He could see her thinking intently. He wanted to know the reason he accused him of such a crime.

How could she know?